Randi Rhodes just said * couldn't declare martial law

[eleny]

...Because she learned today that there is only one brigade in the army left in the States. There is no one left in the army to enforce martial law here.

She's not figuring Blackwater and other mercenary involvement.

Or did I hear her wrong. :shrug:

[liberal N proud]

1. They wouldn't use the US Army, US Navy or US Marines for Marital Law

They wouldn't even use the National Guard, I am sure they have mercenaries all trained and ready to do the enforcement when the time comes.

[tridim]

7. What's the status of Blackwater's new headquarters in California?

I haven't heard a peep since the initial announcement. Probably by design.

Just found this article from 2 days ago:

'America's private army' under fire for Illinois facility
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-blackwater_23jul23,1,4457981.story

They're still expanding. Why? :scared:

[Turbineguy]

14. Would not using a private army

amount to armed overthrow? Those in the private army would be liable for prosecution.

[eleny]

19. "liable for prosecution" - Not necessarily

Right now, Blackwater activities are not subject to the military code of justice nor civil law in Iraq. They can literally get away with murder. They've lobbied hard for that status and massaged their image to keep from having liability.

If you know different, please site your source. My source is the book "Blackwater" by Jeremy Scahill.

[martymar64]

43. Since they're not the military, they're fair targets.

[eleny]

47. Hmmmm

I don't know how to take your comment. :evilgrin:

According to what I've read about them, they aren't liable - at all. Scary stuff.

[tridim]

24. I would hope we could find some common ground with the gun nuts on this issue

Although I'm afraid Blackwater is all gun nuts with a government sanctioned license to kill.

[eleny]

8. I'm almost finished reading the book "Blackwater"

From the book and other things I've read, they have traning facilities in or planned for North Carolina, California, Illinois and Michigan.

[Fridays Child]

15. They need to be legislated out of business.

[eleny]

20. Amen to that

:patriot:

[martymar64]

44. They need to be cluster bombed

[bdamomma]

27. so does leave the Northeast free and clear?

[eleny]

30. That's what I wondered about, too

As I read the book, I figured that New York State would never allow them in.

[Sanctified]

38. Interesting, they could easily deploy private troops acrossed the US from those locations.

The scary thing is now would be the perfect time for Bush to take over the Government, with no troops here to defend the Constitution there would be zero military presence to stand in his way.

[ThomCat]

41. Exactly. They'd WANT the entire military out of the country

when they declare martial law.

[BOSSHOG]

2. Irony

Americans will take up arms to bring down the enemy of our country - the bush administration. Imagine, the second amendment saving democracy through a liberal and correct reading of a constitutional amendment.

[lazer47]

32. Boss their Private Army (Blackwater) and the Regular army plus Marines

can't control Baghdad much less Iraq, and now somebody thinks they could control 220,000,000 pissed off people under martial law,, give me a break, they would be better off trying to take out the South Mississippi Coon Hunting Association, first

[in_cog_ni_to]

3. WHAT??!!! ONE Brigade left here??? How does she know that?

:scared:

[eleny]

11. She talked about seeing an interview with a new U.S. general

In his Q&A with reporters, the general was asked about troop strength in the U.S. for protecting us against the supposed Al Qaeda cells forming in the States. He responded that there was one brigade.

(This was in Randi's program in the last segment - second half hour of the second hour of her program today.)

[laruemtt]

4. funny you should bring this up now.

i was just telling dh a couple of days ago that i'm going to stop worrying about the possibility of martial law because all our troops are overseas. hope i'm not being completely naive - won't be the first time...

[BOSSHOG]

5. More Irony

bush thinks troops will come home from Iraq to defend him???

[eleny]

13. I like the way you think

This reply and your one above, too!

[BOSSHOG]

17. You are very kind my friend

Even more irony. I spent a lot of time as urinalysis coordinator in the Navy. Imagine bush saluting me as a Veteran.

[eleny]

22. So long as it was the proper salute!

:rofl:

[bdamomma]

31. ........

:rofl:

[LSK]

6. makes sense

And is there enough money to fund Blackwater to do such a thing??? One of the benefits of being in massive debt I guess.

[mahina]

9. Never bothered us before...

just sayin

[atreides1]

10. Even with Blackwater

It would be difficult, considering that the US has a large armed population many of whom are military veterans and hunters. Besides, I don't think that all law enforcement agencies would support martial law, and even the National Guard units that still remain can't be counted on by Bush to back him up.

And think of the pissed off military in Iraq and Afghanistan when they find out that their families are under control of a dictator.

[eleny]

16. I always figure we're not a homogeneous country

So it wouldn't be that easy to get us all in line. But you know how so many were after 9/11. Too many in lock step and not asking questions.

But I agree with you that it would be difficult to deal with our population - American ingenuity being what it is. :)

[Faygo Kid]

12. They own the media. Faux News would fall in line, and they could pull the plug on others.

Those who dismiss the possibility of martial law as the ravings of lunatics are at best naive and at worst dangerous.

Could they do it? Whether they could make it stick is an open question.

Would they do it? If they think they have even a chance, hell yes they would.

[MrSlayer]

18. Of course she's right.

I think all this martial law talk is ridiculous. It's not going to happen, never will happen because it can't happen. This country has 280,000,000 people in it. You'd need at least 500,000 troops for New York City alone. This sort of talk is hysterical and silly.

[Lerkfish]

21. actually, cut off electricity, internet and phone service

so the population cannot communicate or organize.

wouldn't be as hard as you think.

[eleny]

23. Yes, not silly if you control infrastructure

Like I mentioned in a reply above, people were walking in unison after 9/11. Control people's thinking and keeping them scared could accomplish a lot. Toss in a couple of real scare incidents along with savvy media about them and there you go.

The thing is that dictators don't think like "normal" people. I think they think like "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead."

[MUAD_DIB]

34. And the economy plops into the toilet.

Bush would be the most reviled piece of shit ever.

[Lerkfish]

40. well, he already would be if he declared martial law, duh.

[MUAD_DIB]

42. The difference would be that he, and every other republican

that didn't denounce him outright, would have a price on their heads.

[martymar64]

45. Not to mention media figures

How long do you think Limbaugh, Coulter, Hannity, O'Reilly and Malkin would stay alive? They'd be among the first targets.

[Ikonoklast]

37. Go ahead, do just that

What better way to antagonize the population of this country.

Hell, even the good 'ol boys would get pissed off at that, just because they had to drink warm beer. Or transportation was disrupted, and they can't even GET a beer.

Just think how angry some people get if they can't get their latte in the morning; now tell them that they won't have electricity for 'the duration of the emergency'.

You'd see some very angry people.

Armed, very angry people. People that never trusted the government anyway, in my neck of the woods..

[Lerkfish]

39. my point is that without communication, organization is thwarted

remember the energy outages soon after 911, where the midwest grid went under.

was there rioting or people taking over the police?

[knowledgeispwr]

26. You're right, but minor correction...

It's more like 300,000,000+ people.

[bdamomma]

33. they didn't have enough troops to help the victims of Katrina.

[lazer47]

35. You are dead on my friend,, Ridiculous

[dkofos]

25. Details, details. Since when have those pesky details stopped the

*ush CRIME FAMILY.

What is really scary is he will do it, and the sheeple will let him get away with it.

[peacetalksforall]

28. Recalling - comment by George - talked about using soldires from

Africa as world policemen - 'peace' keeping missions - help employ them, help their economy yada .... I immediately thought - yeah, with his concept of 'generosity', he probably means they are expendable.
Use and control of mere humans is their ultimate goal - whether or not through martial law.

Blackwater (meaning the WH - same thing) is hiring Chileans for Christian mercenary (not missionary)work.

What's going to happen if our Corporate State Dept has problems in Chile - send Chileans in to fight their brothers?

Probably, because they/PNAC and Barons are going to use U.S. citizens to fight U.S. citizens.

Our Corporate State Dept and CIA got Guatemalans to massacre Guatemalans. They got Salvadoreans to massacre missionaries and Salvadoreans. They got Iraqis to turn other Iraqis in for rewards or revenge - sent off to prisons on Diego Garcia and Guantanamo, if not Romania Poland Georgia etc.

[Shipwack]

29. As long as "American Idol" ran as scheduled...

...as long as Wal-Mart had 'falling prices' was open, and as long as the "good" churches held services, a large portion of the population would shrug and go on as before.

Too many people just don't give a damn, or are afraid to act.

(I rally, really, hope I'm wrong, though)

[Mend]

36. How many cops are there in this country? They usually go the way of the

right-wing.

[martymar64]

46. LAPD couldn't stop the LA riots

What makes you think the police could stop a full civil war?

[Mend]

48. you have made me feel a lot better...I wasn't sure.

[martymar64]

50. I'm not advocating civil war

But if it happens, then we need to know what to do.

[eleny]

49. Especially when they get all that cool riot gear

:scared: